Rachael

 

We put Harriet to sleep last night. The hospice-level pain management wasn't working (couldn't sneak meds into her — such a valiant little spitter), and she was getting worse, fast.

 

She was the best dog ever. I mean that with all my heart. She was the first dog I ever really loved. The hearts at Chez Hehu are collectively broken and today it is hard to take a full breath.

 

YOU, my darling readers, know what this kind of loss means. There are pets that we cuddle and love, and then there are the Truly-Special Where-Did-You-Come-From You-Crazy-Wonderful-Thing-You animals (Digit falls into this category, of course).

Thank you for your love. It means so much to us.

or: Look What Dad Made Long Ago!

From my comments in the last post:

Yer
Dad weighing in. Looks like a good loom to make basic weaves and not
occupy the living room. Back in hippy days, you could buy such a basic
loom kit for $35, so the price is right.

But you might find out if you want to weave for free, then move to
that or a better loom. The Herron Laptop loom is now available…will
send pics through e mail. It works, has a 19" rigid heddle (don't you
remember me flattening brass rods and drilling them?), hardwood where
needed but mostly stained pine, up and down shed, so two where the
other says three, but they may count neutral as a shed. It doesn't sit
on the table, you wedge a u-shape notch against the table edge, capture
the other side with your tummy. Mine is 2 feet by 2 feet, if you want
to play with it first.

Let me know if you want the Herron Laptop Loom.

Love,

Dad

How dang cute is that? He sent along a couple of photos, too. I'm going to have to give it a go at some point. Along with every other fiber-related art, I'll FIND the time somehow. 

 

 

Do you have ANY idea how much restraint I have?

I did NOT buy this, even though it was only $80. EIGHTY dollars! It's a Kliot, and it's made by Lacis, (seen at Lacis, in Berkeley). The two reasons I didn't buy it were that I don't know anything about it, whether it's considered a good starter table-top loom or not (I was thinking about an Ashford IF I get one which is not a for-sure yet — stop laughing, I can hear you), and I don't have time.

I don't have time to watch more than an hour or two of TV a week, and that's if I really, really try to fit True Blood into my life (lovin' it). I don't have time to spin. I barely have time to knit. When the heck would I weave? (A little voice inside me whispers that it uses up the handspun so quickly–oh, the Christmas gifts I could make…)

Thoughts, anyone, on this loom?

And THANK you, all, for your genius ideas on swag! Again, I am humbled by the fact that I have the smartest, prettiest, nicest, best readers in the whole world. I've known that forever, and I'm so grateful and happy.

Hello, my chickens (Chickens! I want chickens! Yes, we've still lost our minds and want chickens. They will coming to a Yarnagogo blog near you soon. But not till after Labor Day).

What was I going to ask you? Oh, yeah. I remember.

Collectively, you know everything. So I'm wondering. I'm sitting plum in the middle of the best spot ever: Book-wise, I'm post-sale, and pre-review. This is the honeymoon phase of my writing career. No one has shouted. No one has broken any of the new dishware. No one has left beer bottles perched on the edge of the bathtub and no one has left anyone else's cowboy hat out where the border collie can get it and chew it up (just as an example, of course, not saying anything). Me and the book, our rings are still shiny and new and we don't have tan lines yet on our ring fingers.

So I'm thinking excitedly about everything I can do to charm the book, to keep the romance alive and sparkly (Lala, at this moment, is thinking HEY! WHAT ABOUT ME? Don't worry, sugar. Romance kindles romance.) I'm thinking promotion.

Promo. Goodies to give away to promote the book. I'll keep it simple and do bookmarks and pens, sure, nice and for the non-knitting venues, regular bookstores and muggle libraries. But when I go to knitting places, Stitches and Rhinebeck and such, what should I give away? Do you have clever ideas? Better yet, do you have clever ideas that require precious little time on my part (because my time really has to be spent on writing, and not on crafting promo items) and even less money? Something knitterly and fun?

Thanks in advance for your genius ideas. MWAH!  

Since I don't mind waiving my medical rights, I go with the Kindle. But this is hysterical:

I have some writing to do today and then a baby shower to prepare for which will feature the guest of honor, which, to me, is really the best way to have a baby shower, isn't it? The dishwasher is running and I'm ready for the day. Enjoy yours.

Whohoo!

Now, normally I wouldn't discuss medications on my blog. I'm gonna get all kinds of crazy hits on my site from people looking for drugs from Mexico. Move along, people. Nothing to see here.

But you, my friends, know my struggles with migraines. I'd been to see a neurologist five years ago– she didn't do much but throw handfuls of triptans at me and wish me well. They didn't work. I've tried narcs and acupuncture. I've changed my diet and my sleep patterns. I know the migraines are driven by hormones, and I've tried supplements, both synthetic and natural. No dice. Every year it gets worse.

I went to a new neurologist the other day, and I think I have been given the miracle drug. Really. It's called T0pamax, and I think it might wash my dishes if I train it to. It's an anti-seizure med (thank god! No more seizures! Not that I get them anyway!), and it's used for depression, too (I'm a little weirded out by that. Definitely don't need need anti-depressants. Will I get even more chipper? Ick). Also, it decreases the desire to drink alcohol (couldn't hurt) and the desire to eat (COULDN'T HURT). The most common side effects are tingly fingers and mouth with no ill effect, bad taste when drinking carbonated beverages (which I don't drink anyway), and weight loss (HELLO!).

I think it might make me taller someday and maybe give me the brown eyes I always wanted. AND my doc says it really might help with my migraines.

OH! And it helps you sleep! Me, insomnia girl, is sleeping! What the hell? I love this stuff.

And my darling chickens, of course I've read the literature and I know the other side effects and watch to watch out for, yes, yes, yes. But I can't help but be excited. I'm so tired of the thrice-monthly pain, excited that maybe this might help. YAY!